Tuesday, March 29, 2016

U.S. Expanding Military Role In Iraq

The Americans are sending in more troops to Iraq and
expanding their area of operation within the country. That was recently
highlighted when a U.S. marine was killed in Ninewa, which led to the
revelation of a firebase being set up in the province. This larger involvement
is meant to help the Iraqi forces expand their offensive capabilities to clear
out Anbar and Ninewa governorates.

The idea of sending U.S. forces to more bases in Iraq has
been talked about for months. Back in June 2015 when 450 soldiers were being
sent to the Taqadum base near Ramadi in Anbar, Reuters
reported that the Obama administration were thinking about more such
arrangements in the country so that it could expand its advise and assist
mission to the Iraqi forces. In October
Defense Secretary Ash Carter told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the White
House wanted to start ground actions against the Islamic State in Iraq and
Syria. The talk was of carrying out more raids against IS commanders and
leaders, but it was quickly revealed that meant troops in bases taking on a
larger role. In November
and December
it was revealed that American soldiers in Anbar were firing artillery and High
Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) starting in the summer to support
the Ramadi offensive. That provided another platform for the U.S. to use along
with its air strikes, which proved crucial to breaking down IS’s defenses in
the city, and its eventual liberation. These forces are now going to support
the Iraqi forces operations to clear out the rest of the province.

After that success the U.S. began focusing upon Mosul. In January
2016 it was announced that the American military was thinking of putting its forces
in bases in Ninewa. That was exactly what happened but secretly at first. Marines
from the 26th Expeditionary Unit built
Firebase Bell in Makhmour, Ninewa at the start of March. They brought artillery
with them to support the new offensive in that district. It’s been speculated
that if HIMARS were deployed there they could reach Mosul and provide close
support to advancing Iraqi forces all the way up to the city. Their presence
was revealed when a Marine was killed in an IS rocket attack upon the base in
the middle of the month. There may
be further forward placements in the future as hinted at by Chairman of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford and Defense Secretary Carter.
Already the number of troops has passed the 3,870 that are officially there to
around 5,000 using “temporary” deployments to mask their presence.

The United States was very slow in joining the fight against
the Islamic State. That brought a huge amount of criticism and mistrust by
Iraqis. Washington and its western Coalition is now the main military backer of
Baghdad, especially since Iran is more involved in Syria and the Russian
operations there. The U.S. is quickly expanding its role in Iraq, and taking
part in combat even though it will not admit it publicly. Its role is still
constrained by Iraqi politics with anti-American factions like the Sadrists and
pro-Iranian parties like Badr and parts of State of Law being opposed to more
U.S. involvement. Still, it appears the President Obama and Prime Minister
Haidar Abadi have been able to expand the American role on the ground, which
will help in the coming effort to take back territory form the Islamic State.

SOURCES

Cooper, Helene, “U.S. May Put Forces at Iraqi Bases in
Effort to Retake Mosul,” New York Times, 1/22/16

Search This Blog

About Me

Musings On Iraq was started in 2008 to explain the politics, economics, security, culture and history of Iraq via original articles and interviews. If you wish to contact me personally my email is: motown67@aol.com